Coupling-centering mechanism.



W. KELSO.

COUPLING CENTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATxoN FILED AuG.17.1916.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

mmw.

y N @j n,

WILLIAM KEIISO, OF IITTSBURGII, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE IVICCQNVAY c 'IGRIAEY COMPANY, OF FEITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

Application led August 17, 1916.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, lViLLmM KnLso, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupling-@entering Mechanism; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oit the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

dy invention relates to that class of car couplers which are mounted upon railway cars so as to be capable et swinging laterally when the cars to which they are attached pass around a curve.

rllhe principal object of the invention is to provide simple and eicient means whereby the trainman while standing at the side ot the car may shift the coupler laterally in either direction so as to move it to proper position for coupling with the coupler of an adjacent car.

A further object of the invention is to so form and combine the elements of the mechanism that it may serve to unlock the coupler.

Generally stated, the means by which these objects are accomplished involve a lever having a plurality of ulcrum points either of which is adapted to cooperate with a liulcrum member mounted upon the car body, the lever being operatively connected to the laterally shittable car coupler by means ot a rod or bar which is coimected to the locking` mechanism of the coupler so as to be capable ot ellecting an unlocking movement ol the latter.

It is to be understood that the details ot construction of the car coupler illustrated in the drawings, although representing a preferred form, are not essential features of the invention in its broad aspect, since the invention is generally applicable to couplers designed to have a lateral movement with respect to the cars upon which they are mounted.

There are other features of invention, involving particular combinations and special features of construction, as will' hereinafter appear'.

In the drawings illustrating the pre-- ferred embodiment of my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented dan. 3U, lllil.

Serial No. 115,470.

Figure l is a front elei'fation of a laterally movable coupler and devices embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing portions of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section on the line Z'MS, Fig. l. Fig. il is a detail section on the line 4 4-, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the relation of the operating lever and its lulcruni, the lever being shown in full lines in the position it occupies when the coupler is shifted in one direction and being shown in dotted lines in the position it occupies when the coupler is shifted laterally in the opposite direction.

In the drawings, l indicates a coupler having a knuckle 2 and a vertically movable lock 3 for retaining the knuckle in locked position. The coupler is of a well-known type that is mounted upon a railway car so as t-o be capable of shifting laterally with respect thereto. The lock 3 is capable of being moved to unlocked position by means of a pivoted lock-actuating member a'- whose outer end enters a slot or opening in the lower end of the lock and whose inner end is provided with pintles 5 which are seated in bearings formed in a bracket 6 secured to the coupler .so as to be movable therewith. At its rear end the pivoted lockactuating member 4 is 'provided with a pocket or recess 7 which is adapted to receive the upwardly extending inner ends S ol rotatable rods i) that respectively extend in opposite directions transversely ot' the car. By rotating either ot the rods 9 the coupler lock 3 may be brought to unlocked position, and in case the coupler is provided with knuckle opening mechanism the knuckle 2 may be caused to rotate to open position. This lock-actuating mechanism, -which has been chosen for purposes of illustration merely, is fully described in the I. H. lt/ililliken `lD-atent No. L18/editi', dated any es, 1916.

T he mechanism for actuating each of the rods J is identical, and, therefore, but one ot these mechanisms has been ilhlstratcd. Viliile it is llneterred to use two sets of mechanism so that the operator while stainling at either side ot the car may unlock the coupler and shilt it laterally in either direction, it is nevertheless to be understood that a single rod 9 and its actuating device may alone be employed, it desired.

At its outer end each operating rod 9 is movably connected to an operating lever 10, suchconnection being preferably formed by lashioning the adjacent end of the rod with jaws 11 which are adapted to receive the lever 10, and by passino' a pivot bolt 12 through suitable openings in the jaws and lever. At its lower end the'lever 10 may be, and preferably is, provided with a pedal or projection 13 which extends at an angle to the direction ot' length of the lever. This pedal 'ati'ords convenient means whereby the trainman may actuate the lever 10 with his foot. rlie-portion oli the lever which is adjacent to the pedal 13 is preferably rounded so as to form a suitable operating handle 1e, by which the traininan may conveniently operate the mechanism with his hand.

rlhe upper end ot the lever 10 is provided with a plurality of fulcruin points 15 either of which, as will be understood from an eX amination of Fig. 5, is adapted to cooperate with the fulcruin member 1G carried by the car. The fulcrum points 15 and the point of attachment of the rod 9 to the lever 10 are disposed in triangular relation, less force being thereby required to be applied at the handle to shilt the coupler than would be required ii but a single tulcrum point located on the vertical center line of the lever were employed. The fulcrum points 15 are preferably about two inches distant from the vertical center line of the lever, but they may be located at any reasonable distance therefrom. i

ln order that the operating lever 10 shall be always in practical engagement with the fulcrum member 1G, it is preferred to provide the latter with a curved, rearwardly extending, projection 17 that enters an opening or loop 18 formed at the upper end of the lever and is interposed between the fulcrum points 15 of the lever. The lateral edges 'ot the projection 17 are rounded, as at 19, to provide tolera, or pivotal points, for the respective tulerum points 15 of the lever 10. As shown in Fig. 5 the contiguratimi oli the opening 18 is such to permit the operating lever to be rotated around either of the edges 19 of the projection 16. In the particular liorm and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, the upper wall of the fulcrum member 16 is cut away, as at 20, to afford clearance for the upper end of the lever 10 during its rotation when operating to shift the coupler laterally when the coupler is unlocked. Brackets 21 are preterably employed to support the operating rods or members 9 iirom the car body in such manner that said rods may be capable ol sliding, turning and swinging or oscillating freely. As shown in the drawings it is preferred to make such brackets integral with the corresponding fulcrum members 16 and to provide each, with a laterally opening slot 22 through which the rod 9 may be introducedY and withdrawn. A. cotter 23 eX- tending across this slot may be emplo-yed as a means for preventing the rod 9 from escaping from the bracket 21.

When the coupler is to be unlocked the trainnian grasps the operating handle 14e of the lever 10 and pulls it forwardly.'` This movement of the operating lever causes a rotation of the adjacent rod 9 sutiicient to unlock the coupler 1, or tocause the knuckle 2, it the latter is tree to open, to be rotated to open position when the coupler is equipped with knuckle opening mechanism. This position of the lever is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. By now pulling or pushing upon the lever, as the necessary direction oll movement of the coupler may require, the trainman may cause a corresponding pull or push to be transmitted to the coupler through the operating rod 9, thus causing the coupler-1 to be correspondingly shifted. [is previously explained, the trainman may place his foot upon the pedal 13 `and thus push upon the lever 10 instead ot pushing it by hand.

Then the lever 10 is actuated to cause a lateral shitting of the coupler in one direction, Aone of the fulcrum points 15 en Vgages the corresponding fulcrum face 19 of the curved projection 17, and when the lever is rotated to cause the coupler to be shifted in the opposite direction, the other ulcrum point 15 and corresponding Jr'ulcrum face 19 cooperate. will be perceived, is thus capable oil rotation about three distinct axes.

Should it be desired to shift the coupler laterally in either direction without unlocking it, the trainman may merely push or pull upon it without moving it in a direction to cause a rotation of the rod 9 and consequent movement of the lock Sto unlocked position.

I claim:

1.111 mechanism ot the character indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted on a railway car so as to be capable of moving laterally, ol means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a fulcrum member, and a lever having a plurality of fulcrum points either of which is adapted to cooperate with said fulcrum member', the fulcrum member being interposed between the fulcrum points of the lever.

2.111 mechanism ot the character` indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted on a car so as to be capable of moving laterally, of means ttor shifting said coupler laterally in either direction, said means involving a lever having an operating handle and a plurality of fulcrum points, and means connecting said lever to said coupler, said fulcrum points and the The lever 10, it I Lamme point of attachment of said connecting means to said lever being triangularly disposed, the ulcrum member being interposed between the fulcrum points of the lever.

3. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted on a railway car so as to be capable or" moving laterally, of means for unlocking said coupler and shitting it laty erally, said means involving a lever which is adapted to be rotated vabout three distinct axes, and a fulcrum member interposed between two ot the axial points ot the lever. l

il. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted on a railway car so as to be ca'- pable ot' moving laterally, of means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a Julcrum member affording a plurality of ulcra for an operating lever, and an operating lever adapted to tulcrum upon either ot said iiulcra, said operating lever having an opening, and said ulcrum member having a projection extending into said opening.

In mechanism of th-e character indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted on a railway car so as to be capable of moving laterally, said coupler involving a knuckle and a lock therefor, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position and for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a ulcrum member, a lever coperating with said fulcrum member, and means operatively connecting said lever and co-upler and adapted to actuate said coupler lock, said lever being rotatable in one direction to induce an unlocking movement ot said lock, and being rotatable in another direction to effect a lateral shifting of said coupler, said shifting being effected indeiiendently ot an unlocking movement of said lever.

6. In mechanism of the character indicated, the con'ibination with a coupler mounted on a railway ca r, so as to be capable ot moving laterally, said coupler involving a knuckle and a lock therefor, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position and for shitting said coupler laterally, said means involving a fulcrum member, a lever coperating with said fulcrum member, and means operatively connecting said lever and coupler and adapted to actuate said coupler lock, said lever being movable in one direction to induce an unlocking movement of said lock, and being movable in another direction to e'tlect a lateral shifting of the coupler, said lever and said t'ulcruin member being adapted to coperate in all positions ot the parts, whereby the coupler 'may be shifted laterally either when it is locked or when it is unlocked.

7. In mechanism ot the character indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted on a railway car so as to be capable of moving laterally, of means Jfor shifting said coupler laterally in either direction, said means involving a fulcrum member having a projection affording a plurality of tulcra, a lever having at its upper end an opening which is adapted to receive said projection, and a rod operatively connected to said lever and coupler, said lever being adapted to engage and turn upon either ot said ulcra of said projection, whereby the coupler may be shifted laterally in either direction by a corresponding rotation ot said lever.

S. In mechanism oi the character indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted on a railway car so as to be capable of moving laterally, of means for shitting said coupler laterally in eitherdirection, said means involving a fulcrum member mounted on the car body, a rotatable lever, and a rod operatively connected to said coupler and lever, one arm of said lever being adapted to engage said tulcrum member above said rod and the other arm of said lever being provided with a pedal extending at an angle to the direction of length ot said lever.

9. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler which is mounted on a railway car so as to be capable of moving laterally, of means for shitting said coupler laterally, said means involving a lever, and a tulcrum member aiiording a plurality of fulcra, said lever being adapted to coperate with either of said tulcra, and said tulcra having curved faces forming pivotal points for said lever.

l0. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted on a railway car so as to be capable ot moving laterally, said coupler involving a knuckle and a lock therefor, of means for moving said coupler to unlocked position and for shi 'tting said coupler laterally, said means involving a rotatable rod operatively connected to said lock and extending toward the side of the car, a lever pivotally connected to and adapted to actuate said rod, and a Jfulcrum member with which said lever is adapted to cooperate, said tulcrum member having a curved projection, and said lever having an opening. for the reception of said curved projection and being adapted to rotate while in engagement with said projection.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM KELSO.

sopes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Sommaeioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

